Automatic road-map



E. K. BROWN. AUTOMATIC ROAD MAP.

@NCM L i WITNESS:

1N VENTQR.

A TTORNE Y .5.

E. K. BROWN. AUTOMATIC ROAD MAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24 1921.

1 ,398,623 Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

19' I I I '1Q/WWII f 19' v1 I7 I m u A, E (I: .h I :1 zf//f I 30 E #W5 Il sa, 0 I E Z9, 1 I 11 WITNESS: E IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATI-:s

ELMER K. BROWN, oF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC ROAD-MA1.

Application led March 24, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELMER K. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King, State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Road- Maps;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exhibitors.

One object of the invention is to provide an exhibitor, in the form of amap, which is adapted for use in connection with an automobile, andwhich is automatically moved, as the automobile moves, to display theportions of territory through which the automobile is passing, in theproper succession and speed.

Another object is to provide a novel a'nd improved means for supportingthe map in a casing,'and means for automatically drivin the map, as theautomobile travels.

ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device, the cover being removed toexpose the interior mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig.1, showing the gearing in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central sectional view on the line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view onthe line 4 4 of Fig.1, one of the map roller carriages being removed, to show the groovesinto which the pins of the carthe device longitudinallyl incomparatively close spaced' relation to one of the longer sides thereof,is a vertical partition wall 11. In the inner' face of the wall 11, andthe corresponding face of the remote side wall of the box, are formedthe vertical pairs of parallel grooves 12, the same being arrangedadjacent the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

Serial No. 455,201.

ends of the box. Connecting the lower ends i of each pair of verticalgrooves is a horizontal longitudinally extending groove 13, the innerend of which projects beyond the innermost of the grooves of the pair. l

Extending transversely through one of the longer sides of the box, andthrough the partition wall, are the two shafts 14 and 15, said shaftsbeing arranged adjacent the inner ends of the horizontal grooves 13, andhaving secured thereon the rollers 16 and 17, respectively.

Each of the web carrying shafts 18 is supported in theI side walls of acarriage 19. Each of these carriages is-formed from a singlestrip ofmetal bent to form the vertical parallel side walls 19 and the rearvertical connecting wall 20. The ends of the shaft 18 are rotatablysupported in the intermediate portions of the side walls, and secured tothe'shaft is one end of the map web 21. Projecting from the outer facesof the side walls of each carriage are the horizontally alined pairs ofpins 22. These pins are spaced apart a distance equal to the distancebetween a pair of vertical grooves 12, so that the carriage may beslipped down into the box, when the pins are properly engaged in saidgrooves. VVh'en lowered to the proper distance within the box, the pinsof the carriage will enter the horizontal grooves so that the carriagemay slide horizontally toward and 'away from the corresponding roller 16or 17.

Secured on the shafts 14 andy 15, between the wall 11, and the adjacentside of the box, are the gears 23 and 24 respectively. Supportedrotatably in the partition 11 and the said adjacent wall of the box, andintermediate the shafts 14 and 15, is a short shaft 25, on which issecured a worm wheel 26 and a small pinion or gear 27. The gear 27meshes with the gears 23 and 2.4 simultaneously to drive them in thesame direction. Disposed vertically in the compartment between thewallll and the adjacent side of the boX,is a shaft, 28 having formedthereon the 4worn-1 29 which meshes with the worrnwheel 26. The otherend of the vertical-shaft 28 is formed for operation by the axle of anautomobile ,so that, the web will be driven at the same speed as theautomobile, that is the parts of the country through which theautomobile 1s passlng, will be shown in the order approached and passedby the automobile.

It will be noted that the portion of the web which is wound on eachspindle or shaft 18 contacts with av-roller 16 or 17, and as theserollers a'rey rotated they frictionally drive the shafts 18, with theresult that the web will be unwound from one shaft and wound onto theother. As the diameter of the web wound on a`shaft 18 increases, thecontact of the same with the adjacent roller 16- or 17 will cause theweb and shaft, togetlier with the carriage. which carries them, to movetoward the corresponding end of the box,1 the pins of the carriagesliding in the horizontal grooves. At the same time, the other web shaftfrom which thel web is being unwound will move inwardl to-keep incontact with its adjacent rol er. The gears 23 and 24 being of the samediameter and speed of the two shafts 18 will be constant, wherebyexcessive pull on the web will be eliminated.

AOn the upper side of the box is secured a cover plate 29 in which "isformed a sight opening 30 provided with a sheet of transparent material,such as the glass pane 31, through which a portion of the traveling webmay be .seenbythe driver of the automobile.

When it is desired to remove the web for any purpose, as for repairs, orfor placing a .new web, havin a different mapthereon,

the carriages are s ipped backwardly toward the ends of the box untilthe pins 22 are at the lower ends of the vertical slots or grooves, whenthe carriages may be quickly and easily drawn upwardly and out of thebox.

In the upper portion of the box, and extending transversely between theouter longer side and the partition wall, are the web guiding rollers32, over whichthe intermediate portion of the web slides, andwhiohlholdsuch ortion in fiat condition directly beneath t e 4sight opening inthe,

cover plate 29.

Embracing the carriages 1,9 and extending therebetween is an elasticband 32, which exerts force to normally drawvthe carriages toward -eachother and thus firmly grooves, carriages supporting the said shafts vandhaving laterally directed pins engageable'in the vertical grooves forinsertion of the carriages in the box, the sides of the lbox beingformed with horizontal grooves communicating with the vertical groovesto receive the sald pins and permit the longitudinal movement of thecarriages and shafts toward and away from the driving means to contactthe wound portions of the web with the driving means and cause wind-ving and unwinding of the Web.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature inthe presence of twowitnesses.

ELMER K. BROWN. Witnesses:

W. E. WREAD, A. L. Rosny,

